Canonfire! - The Flanaess in 645 CY

It is 60 years after the end of the Greyhawk Wars. Many of the great and the good of that time are gone to their graves. The Great Wheel of Time turns as it always had, carrying heroes, villains and nations up to the zenith of their glory and casting them down again. The nations of the Flanaess, though they do not tire of warring among each other, now reach out to embrace the wider world. And for the first time, the wider world has begun to take an interest in the affairs of eastern Oerik....

The Flanaess in 645 CY
By: Paul Looby, aka woesinger
Used with Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the author.

This is a hypothetical look at how the Flanaess and eastern Oerik might develop over the next 50 years from the current date in the Living Greyhawk campaign (595 CY). This projection incorporates some events from the Core plotlines of the Living Greyhawk campaign.

Old Aerdy

The Great Kingdom of Aerdy is reunited under the rule of the Darmen overkings after the second Turmoil Between the Crowns (otherwise known as the War of the Two Overkings) between Overkings Xavener of Darmen (called the Magnificent) and Overking Strychan of Naelax (called the Depraved). However, where Aerdy relied upon strength of arms, Ahlissa’s strength lies in the fabulous wealth of her merchant princes. Merchants of the Royal Guild of Merchants of Aerdy now ply the trade lanes on land and sea from the Far Western Shores of Oerik to the enormous port cities of the Celestial Empire.

The rulers of the Solnor Compact, faced with the alternative of a crippling blockade on their goods, have taken their places among the Princes of Ahlissa. Only the Sea Barons briefly hoped to resist Ahlissa’s embrace, until a vast bribe bought the loyalty of the baron of Oakenheart, who, having persuaded his fellow barons to meet the Ahlissan fleet in battle, betrayed them, shattering their fleets and gaining the title of Prince of Asperdi. Those captains that have refused to bend the knee have sworn revenge and become pirates, more than ever living up to their name as the Sharks of the Aerdi Sea.

After many threats to its integrity (including a civil war in Onnwal), the Iron League endures, if still tenuously. Onnwal and Irongate stand fast together, while Sunndi remains resolute behind her natural defenses. Onnwal has rebuilt her fleets, which now join the great boom of exploration in the southern seas. There is an uneasy peace with Ahlissa. Many blame Ahlissa for backing the faction that opposed the House of Destron in Onnwalon Civil War. Ahlissans retort that the Iron League financed and backed the failed Ideean Uprising and continue to lend aid and succor to those who oppose the rightful rule of the Prince of Naerie. For now, neither side sees any profit in returning to the open warfare of the 5th and 6th centuries. However, behind the scenes the agents of the Jade Mask battle the spies of the Nightingale Throne with wit, blade and spell.

In the distant north, Ratik and the Fruztii are united by marriage and the Fruz have long since brought the Schnai to heel. Only the jarls of the Cruski remain defiant, claiming that the Fruztii are the lapdogs of the red panderers of the south (the Brothers of the Scarlet Sign). The longships of the north now raid south every summer, harrying the coasts and shipping of the Solnor. Battles with the Ahlissan many are now frequent, but the overking has not ordered a full-scale punitive expedition …yet. An Ahlissan attack on Ratik would almost certainly draw Nyrond into the conflict, given the treaties and oaths of mutual aid and friendship between the realms.

Old Nyrond

Nyrond has enjoyed long years of peace and prosperity, interrupted only by a brief and doomed rebellion by Sewarndt, the brother of the late King Lynwerd the Reclaimer. The scarred lands of Almor have been restored, as have the mines and castles of the Flinty Hills. Her borders secure and her economy strong once more, Nyrond looks to the south for new opportunities. Nyrondese ships (often bankrolled by Urnsian gold) sail the Pearl Sea, linking a far-flung network of trading posts. However, Ahlissan threats against Ratik and the fate of the Bone March is rapidly becoming a source of tension between Ahlissa and Nyrond, with both sides citing rival claims to the former imperial province. Rumours of skirmishes between Nyrondese and Ahlissan ships in the southern seas now circulate, while the line of the Harp, long tranquil, has seen a build up in tension in recent months.

The County Urnst resisted reunification with the Duchy after Countess Belissica died without issue. The lines of Gellor and Lorinar still rule in peace and prosperity, the banks of Leukish and Radigast providing something of counterweight those of Kalstrand, Rel Deven and Rel Astra. The only threat to the peace of mind of the Lorinar dukes is the inscrutable Emperor of the Bright Lands, who seems content to scheme behind the fastness of the Abbor-Alz as he has for many long years.

In the Pale, the Radiant Inquisition has burned out the last remnants of the Liberal heresy that briefly held power in the Theocracy after the death of Ogron Tillit. The armies of the Pale were eventually forced to withdraw from Tenh by the relentless and dogged resistance of Duke Labahlah the Liberator. This defeat and the resurgence of Nyrond forced the Palish to withdraw in on themselves, practically shutting themselves off from the outside world.

Old Ferrond and the Northern Reaches

The Empire of Iuz collapsed when it was discovered that the demi-god had departed the Oerth after the end of the Greyhawk Wars. In the ensuing chaos and bloodshed, the Freelords of the Bandit Lands reasserted themselves for the most part, though followers of the Lord of Pain yet rule in places, loyal more to themselves now than their master. The Freelords have reverted to type, warring with each other and the Knights of the Holy Shielding.

The Shield Lands are free once more. Unlike their Furyondi cousins, the Knights of the Holy Shielding have not forgotten their oaths to make unremitting war upon the Old One and his works and engage in continual skirmishing with the Freelords along their borders.

To the east, Tenh is restored under the rule of the House of Labalah and is free once more after decades of Palish interference and occupation. Life slowly returns to the Stonelands through the sacrifice of Labahlah and his heirs, though what harvests there have been have been meager at best. The Liberator has returned to the Oerth, but his feats will long be remembered in Tenh, not least the capture of Rookroost and the lands between the Felreev and the Zumker, upon which many in Tenh now rely for food.

The Rovers and the Coltens united briefly to destroy the legacy of Stonefist and the tyrannical rule of Sevvord Redbeard, breaking up into their traditional tribal groupings once the victory was won. The clans of the Arapahi have regained their homelands and something of their old strength and their Wardogs occasionally raid south once more to wreak havoc on lands of the Freelords.

Iggwilv rules as Witchqueen of Perrenland and the north, having overrun the cantons with the hordes of her late husband the Khan of the Chakyik. The Chakyik struck first at the Weigwur. The main strength of the Wolf Nomads was destroyed in battle on the open plains, after Iggwilv’s decisive intercession in the battle. Eru Tovar is but a burnt and haunted ruin and the remaining Weiwur Khans are now scattered from the Burneal to the plains of the Rovers.

In Doraaka, the survivors of the Boneheart now look fearfully to the north and west. For decades, they have held the City of Skulls and the Howling Hills against all comers with fanatical tenacity, guarding them in preparation for their Dread Master's return, they say.

Furyondy is only waking to the new threat from the north. After the death of Belvor the Defender and the short but catastrophic reign of Thrommel the Black, the throne of Furyondy has become a playing piece for the Great Lords of the realm, politicking and conspiring among themselves. Thus they failed to capitalize on the collapse of Iuz's territories and have been heedless to the fall of the Weigwur and the Perrenish, despite calls from the lesser nobility of the north and their allies among the Highfolk. The Furyondian Knights of the Hart have become wealthy, indolent and, some say corrupt, in since they annexed of Verbobonc, Dyvers and Greyhawk City for the realm. A new king, Avras V of the House of Jakarti, has just come to the throne. Hardly more than a boy, he seems likely to be the latest in a line of powerless puppet kings, easily manipulated or ignored - or so the Great Lords think.

Veluna’s long peace after the Wars was ended when Kettites, fleeing the wars of the Madhi, began to pour through the Fals Gap raiding and pillaging what they could. As Keoland reasserted itself in Bissel, the Canon refused to commit Velunese armies to the Keoish crusade to punish the Bakluni. Though the capture of Ket has brought peace to Veluna once more, many Velunese look fearfully at the growing power of the Witchqueen in Perrenland and the growing arrogance of the Keoish lords in Thornward.

Greyhawk's fortunes have waned. Weakened by the rebellion of Hardby and the cities of the Wild Coast, it foolishly became embroiled in an open war with Dyvers, which resulted in its sacking and occupation by the Furyondian Knights of the Hart (aided by the forces of Hardby and mercenaries hired with Ahlissan gold), who also rule in Dyvers and Verbobonc, reaping untold wealth from trade taxes. Though the Knights have long asserted that the old Greyhawk Thieves and Assassin’s Guilds have long since been rooted out and destroyed, the recent murder of three senior knights in the city has revived rumors that these groups still resist the rule of the invaders.

Keoland and the Sheldomar Basin

Keoland has regained something of its former Imperial glory and reclaimed most of the Sheldomar-Javan Basin. In response to Kettite raids into Bissel, Keoland launched an invasion to conquer Ket and punish the invaders. In doing so, they have been drawn into war with the armies of the Great Madhi. Led by the Knights of the Watch, the armies of Keoland push once more into the Bakluni West - overrunning Ket and fighting to hold the line of the Tuflik while the Madhite hordes swirl about their border castles.

Celene has awoken. Stung into action by the razing of Courwood by the hordes of the Mak (as the hereditary Despot of the Pomarj is known), the Celeni and the armies of Ulek now wage the Second Hateful Wars throughout the Lortmils and Pomarj, a conflict that will only end with the utter destruction of one side or the other.

The West

The Bakluni lands have been reunited by the Great Madhi. Having been granted the blessings of the Shah of the Waters, he united the Paynim tribes beneath his banner, and rode north crushing Ull, Ket, Tusmit and Zeif in turn. Sending the Sultan of Zeif fleeing into exile in Komal, the Madhi turned to Ekbir, where at last both the Caliph and the Grand Mufti knelt to recognise him as the True Servant of the Gods. The armies of the Mahdi have now rejoined the ancient struggle in defense of their homelands against the Suel in the form of the Knights of the Watch and the armies of Keoland in Ket.

The South and East

The land of Shar has been battered and assailed, but is still in the hands of the Scarlet Sign. The Brotherhood suffered a crushing naval defeat at the Battle of Scant at the hands of the Azure League, which saw ships of Ahlissa, Keoland, Ulek, Nyrond and the Iron League united against the Brotherhood and the Lordship and Pomarji allies. An invasion of Shar followed. However, while their armies struggled to take the passes onto the high plateau of the Tilvanot, quarrels and mistrust broke out between the allies. The withdrawal of the Keoish army led to the collapse of the League and the siege. Though they managed to recapture Kro Terlep from the Ahlissans, the Brotherhood has drawn back into the shadows, spinning its webs of assassination, infiltration and espionage throughout the Flanaess to ensure that its homeland will never be attacked again and attempting as ever to bring new realms under its sway. While its fleets defend the shores of Shar, the Brotherhood has worked to expand its holdings on Hepmonaland, warring with the exploration fleets of Keoland, the Iron League, Ahlissa and Nyrond as they spread south along the coasts of Hepmonaland.

As the influence of the northern traders grows in the courts of the Touv, some in Hesuel Ilshar, Kalstrand, Niole Dra, Rel Mord and elsewhere see the chance to use the Touv's divisions to their own advantage, supporting friendly states against those who favour their rivals. Among the Touv the conviction grows among the wise that unless they unite, they will be swallowed piecemeal by the voracious northerners. War clouds gather over southern Hepmonaland.

In the southeast, trading ships from the Flanaess call at the fabulous ports of Zahind and the spice isles of the Kallaraj, where the Dragon Emperor rules. Some have even ventured as far as the fabled metropoli of the Celestial Empire, where the mandarins of the Celestial Emperor carry out his edits through thought alone, 'tis said. Equally ships from the south and west call to the ports of the Azure, Nyrond and Greyhawk City. However, the future of these routes has been threatened by the recent massacre of all Flanaessi traders in Kallaraj on the orders of the Dragon Emperor himself.

To the west, the vessels of Ahlissa and the Frutz have reached Fireland and the far eastern shores of Oerik and have set up trading colonies in the ports of the realms upon the Thither Shore.

One rumour is spreading through the ports of the Azure Sea like wildfire. An Onnwalon caravel limped into Scant, reporting it had only barely escaped an encounter with an enormous fleet of ships flying the war banner of the Dragon Emperor of Kallaraj. According to the vessel’s navigator, when they were last seen, the fleet was on a course directly for the port of Naerie. More alarmingly, the fleet was said to be shadowed by a flight of three huge dragons – said to be of the brood of the Dragon Emperor himself.